Extracts from a MS. Journal. 97 



The general reports about the waters of the Mis- 

 sisippi being a cure for the itch, I believe to be 

 true. Most of our men had the disease, when we 

 started, and by the time we arrived here (Panmure), 

 they were all well. The water is muddy, but is 

 pleasant to drink, and is thought very wholesome. 

 Page 27. 



October 30tb. I could not help taking notice of the 

 artificial mounts, which we saw on our way. There 

 are numbers of them throughout this country. It is 

 unknown, either by the Indians or the white inhabi- 

 tants, by whom they were constructed ; but it is cer- 

 tain that they must be of a long standing. On some of 

 them there are growing trees, more than two feet over. 

 Mr. Smith lives upon one, which is not less than 35 

 feet in perpendicular height, about 150 feet long, and 

 and 100 feet broad. They are of different forms : 

 some are square ; some long-square ; some eight- 

 sided, and some round. There cannot be better situ- 

 ations for houses than they make. (See Note J3.) 

 Pages 34 and 35. 



The Chactaw towns are in no kind of regular form. 

 Every family has two houses, one for winter, and the 

 other for summer. The Hot-Houses are built with 

 stakes stuck up and filled in with mud. They are, 

 in general, round, and plastered all over with clay so 

 close, that no air can enter, except at the door, which 

 is but small. The outside looks very neat. In the 

 centre of each of these houses, they have a small fire, 

 around which they huddle in cold weather. The 



N 



